Cry for ‘rarest’ penalty to rapists

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Women in Ranchi on Friday saluted the courage of the 23-year-old paramedical student who is fighting for her life after being gang-raped on a Delhi bus, and demanded the “rarest of rare” punishment for the accused.

Under the aegis of All India Democratic Women’s Association, the group — comprising many women from tribal communities — demonstrated in front of Raj Bhavan for two hours from noon.

Veena Linda, the joint secretary of the association, contended that a rapist should never be given an easy death. “Hanging them (Delhi gang-rape accused) is not enough. They deserve harsher punishment. The court should award them rarest of rare punishment,” she said.

Later in the day, a delegation led by Linda handed over a memorandum to Raj Bhavan officials.

The demonstration received support from volunteers and office-bearers of several other organisations, including the All India Kisan Sabha, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Centre of Indian Trade Unions and Students Federation of India (SFI).

Secretary of the organisation Geeta Jha highlighted how insecure women in Ranchi were.

“Recently, a tribal girl immolated herself over eve-teasing. Women are not safe in the state capital,” she said, referring to the suicide of a Class X student of Marwari Kanya Pathshala at her Chatakpur village home in Ratu on December 15.

City SP Vipul Shukla said they had beefed up security near schools and women’s colleges. “Eve-teasers will be dealt with strictly,” he warned.